Adventures, or why I really didn't get much work done on Sunday
On Sunday afternoon, I was itching to get out of the house, so I decided to go on an expedition to Harper's Nursery to pick up a plant or two and stop by their espresso stand for some grading fun. I hitched up the trailer in anticipation of the plant purchases. It seems like I'm on a bit of a plant-growing kick these days: the basil is starting to come up, as are the chives, and I keep wanting to add more green. Perhaps the cooler weather is my inspiration.
In any case, the trip up to Harper's was a tad bit longer than I'd remembered, and upon my arrival I was dismayed to discover that the espresso stand was closed. But I took a look around and decided to get a small pothos plant for an indoor hanger and a calla lily for out in front (they're poisonous for cats, so it will never come indoors). And then I spotted it: a bistro table and chair set that's just what I've been looking for, for the right price and everything. It has a slate mosaic surface and a bit of a worn patina.
So I bought it.
The garden store guy helped me unbolt the table base from the top, and the chairs and base all folded up, so I was able to pack everything onto the trailer (I've decided to name my trailer Kirby, incidentally). When the garden store guy initially "helpfully" loaded everything for me, he thought he had some good ideas about how to position things, but the table top rather quickly indicated that it had other plans, and so I then spent a good 15 minutes repacking everything as stably as possible, with the help of a few bungie cords. Needless to say, it was a slow, ponderous ride home. But now I have a table, where I can eat food and not share it with my cat (she's allowed on the desk, but definitely not on the table). And I can even invite other folks over for dinner now, without making them eat off their laps. How civilized!
Photographic evidence:
Jolly Roger and Kirby, my hauling wonder team. Note how the top edge of the table is barely higher than the side support--that was my largest cause for concern. If I can manage this with an aluminum trailer designed for wee children, just think of the possibilities if I could weld myself a steel-framed trailer with some REAL hauling capacity!
Oh look, my house is now un petit French bistro!
Then D called and I decided hanging out and doing a wee bit of grading sounded like more fun than just grading. So much for getting work done.
In any case, the trip up to Harper's was a tad bit longer than I'd remembered, and upon my arrival I was dismayed to discover that the espresso stand was closed. But I took a look around and decided to get a small pothos plant for an indoor hanger and a calla lily for out in front (they're poisonous for cats, so it will never come indoors). And then I spotted it: a bistro table and chair set that's just what I've been looking for, for the right price and everything. It has a slate mosaic surface and a bit of a worn patina.
So I bought it.
The garden store guy helped me unbolt the table base from the top, and the chairs and base all folded up, so I was able to pack everything onto the trailer (I've decided to name my trailer Kirby, incidentally). When the garden store guy initially "helpfully" loaded everything for me, he thought he had some good ideas about how to position things, but the table top rather quickly indicated that it had other plans, and so I then spent a good 15 minutes repacking everything as stably as possible, with the help of a few bungie cords. Needless to say, it was a slow, ponderous ride home. But now I have a table, where I can eat food and not share it with my cat (she's allowed on the desk, but definitely not on the table). And I can even invite other folks over for dinner now, without making them eat off their laps. How civilized!
Photographic evidence:
Jolly Roger and Kirby, my hauling wonder team. Note how the top edge of the table is barely higher than the side support--that was my largest cause for concern. If I can manage this with an aluminum trailer designed for wee children, just think of the possibilities if I could weld myself a steel-framed trailer with some REAL hauling capacity!
Oh look, my house is now un petit French bistro!
Then D called and I decided hanging out and doing a wee bit of grading sounded like more fun than just grading. So much for getting work done.